This document provides information on serving family meals, including family style service where dishes are passed around the table. It discusses how the table setting influences the meal and lists the typical components of a place setting. Etiquette tips are outlined such as passing food to the right, avoiding talking with your mouth full, and clearing the table properly after eating. The summary emphasizes that applying basic principles of table setting, service, and manners can create a pleasant atmosphere that enhances relationships and food presentation, while good manners show respect for others.

1. Serving the
Family Meals

2. Family Style of Service
• Often called English service
• All food brought to table on platters or in
bowls
• The members of the family pass the
dishes and serve themselves with
serving utensils

4. Setting the Table Influences
• Appearance of the food served
• Sets the tone/feeling of the
meal
• Makes people feel important

5. Three Components of
a Place Setting
• Dinnerware
– Plates, cups, bowls, saucers, platters and
other serving pieces
• Flatware
– Butter, dinner and steak knives; salad/dessert,
dinner fork; soup, dessert and teaspoons.
• Glassware
– Water goblet, milk and wine glasses,
sherbet glass

6. Dinnerware

7. Types of Flatware
• Soup spoon
–Larger than teaspoon
• Salad/dessert fork
–Smaller than dinner fork
• Butter knife
–Shape and size smaller
than dinner knife

8. Glassware

10. Table Manners

11. Table Etiquette
• Courtesy shown by good manners at
meals.
• Reflect part of your personality to others.
• Makes eating a pleasant experience for
everyone
• Most rules of etiquette involve
common sense and consideration
of other people.

12. Common Rules of Etiquette
• Sitting down
–From the left side of your chair.
• Passing food
–To the right.

13. Common Rules of Etiquette
• Cover your mouth and nose if you
must cough or sneeze.
• Use a separate serving spoon.
• Say “excuse me” when leaving the
table

14. Common Rules of Etiquette
• When eating with a small group
–Wait until everyone is served before
eating
• Avoid talking with food in mouth.
• Chew with mouth closed.

15. Common Rules of Etiquette
• Cut food into bite-size pieces
–As you eat, not all at once.
• Sit up straight
• Avoid leaning on elbows while eating.

16. Common Rules of Etiquette
• When finished with soup
–Place spoon on soup plate
• Eating a roll/bread
–Break one piece off at a time, butter and
eat.
–Place butter on your own plate
before buttering your bread/roll.

17. Common Rules of Etiquette
• Cell Phone Etiquette
–Turn your cell phone to vibrate or off.
–Avoid checking your phone.
–If it is an emergency, excuse
yourself from the table.
–Keep your voice down when
talking on a cell phone.

18. Clearing the table
• Remove bowls. Plates and glasses and
spoons and forks.
• Never stack dishes on the table.
• Use tray to collect glasses, spoons and
forks.
• Wipe the dining table with a clean
cloth or rag.

19. Summary
• If you apply basic principles of setting
the table, table service and manners
you can create a pleasant
atmosphere so that your relationships
and appearance of food are
enhanced.
• Good manners show respect for
others.